Welcome to the official page of the European Southern Observatory, the world's most productive ground-based observatory!

ESO, the European Southern Observatory, provides state-of-the-art research facilities to European astronomers and astrophysicists. It is an intergovernmental organisation with 15 member-states.

ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of even more powerful observing facilities.

ESO has enabled the first picture of a planet around another star, measured the distance to the most remote object ever found, found the largest solar system yet around another star and contributed to the discovery of the Universe’s accelerating expansion due to the elusive dark energy.

#ESOjobs The research studentship programme of the European Southern Observatory provides an outstanding opportunity for PhD students to experience the exciting scientific environment at one of the world's leading observatories in Santiago, Chile, for a period of up to two years. Apply until 1 May 2015. Details at https://recruitment.eso.org/Follow our LinkedIn page to stay up to date with career opportunities at ESO: http://www.linkedin.com/company/european-southern-observatoryImage credit: @ESO Astronomy /Y. Beletsky﻿

ESO Astronomy and Centrum Hewelianum invite all astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts to take part in the international competition AstroCamera 2015 until 17 April 2015. Conditions and details are available at: http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15018/﻿